Dispensing cap



Oct. 24, 1939. F. A. WILDER ET AL. 2,177,161

DISPENSING CAP Filed Oct. 10, 1938 VIII/I/I/I/I/ L 1: I I

L J, Kym/'7" My INVENTORS.

ForresfA. WI [o'er B Lawrence E Rea an Patented Oct. 24, 1939 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE 2,177,151 DISPENSING CAP Application October 10,1938, Serial No. 234,169

4 Claims.

Our invention relates to dispensing caps and more particularly to meansfor manually dispensing variable quantities of liquid from a conainer,from drop to a stream.

Another object is to provide means for dispensing variable quantities ofliquid under atmospheric pressure.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novelcombinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear inthe course of the following description.

In the drawing, like reference characters designate similar parts in theseveral views.

Figure 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of 16 my invention, looking inthe direction of the arrow A of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view of a modified construction, looking in thedirection of the arrow B of Figure 4.

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 44 of Figure 3.

Figures 5 and 6 are respectively representations of a form of nozzlethat may be used in any of the forms of the present invention. Figure 5shows the nozzle molded with a closed end and Figure 6 represents thesame nozzle after the end has been clipped therefrom.

Figure '7 represents the nozzle shown in Figure 6 with the end openingclosed by a plug.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the reference numeral 8generally designates a container of glass or other suitable material.Neck 9 35 of the bottle is threaded, as suggested at 18 for thereception of a screw cap l2. Other suitable caps or crowns may also beused.

The cap i2 has a circular flange l3 at the top thereof.

Mounted between the neck 9 of the container and the flange l3 of the capare two members, one of which is a washer H of metal or othersubstantially rigid material. The washer l4 has a port I5 and an openingl6.

Disposed between the flange l3 and the washer I4 is an elastic disc l'lcontaining two protuberances, one of which is a nozzle I8 and the otheris an air cup IS. The nozzle 18 contains a discharge orifice 20 at itstip, while the interior of the 0 cup I! communicates with the interiorof the container 8 through the port l5 in the washer 14.

A tube 21 is preferably inserted in the elastic nozzle 18, theelasticity of which maintains the upper end of the siphon tube 2| withinthe noz- 55 zle, as illustrated at 22.

It is to be understood that the parts ll, l8 and I9 are made of elasticrubber.

In the form shown in Figures 3 and 4, container 23 has a neck 24 that issmooth exteriorly. A circumferential lip 25 on the dispensing device 285 may be maintained on the neck 24 by reason of the elasticity of thelip 25 of the rubber dispenser 26 and in addition the lip 25 may becemented in place upon the neck 24, so that the dispenser 26 may not beremoved without tearl0 ing the lip 25.

The dispenser 26 comprises a disc 21 from which the lip 25 depends. Thedisc 21 has a protruding nozzle 28 and a protruding air cup 29. Thenozzle 28 has a discharge orifice 30 at 16 its tip.

Figure 5 illustrates a nozzle 3| similar to. nozzle 28 except that thenozzle 3| has no discharge orifice. The nozzle 28 may be molded closed,

similar to the nozzle 3i and when ready for use, filo the tip may be cutfrom the nozzle, as suggested at 32. Thereafter when the dispenser isnot in use, a plug 33 may be used to close the orifice 32. A body ofliquid is suggested at 34.

Using a dispenser that is molded shut, provides as practical means forpackaging and distributing closed containers, by providing a nozzle thatcan be easily used for dispensing by merely cutting the end or otherwisemaking an opening in the nozzle. 30

In the use of the form shown in Figures 1 and 2. cap I9 is depressed,forcing the air therein through the port l5 and into the container 8above the liquid 34. This movement compresses the air in the container 8and forces liquid through the 35 tube 2| and out through the orifice 20.It is not necessary to invert the container in order to accomplish thisdispensing step.

The washer l4 provides a support for the disc I! and prevents the nozzlel8 and tube 2| from 40 tipping laterally when the cap 19 is compressed.

In the form shown in Figures 3 and 4, no siphon tube and no supportingwasher are employed. It is necessary to invert the container 23 in orderto dispense the fluid therein, but upon inversion 5 the fluid may bedispensed in any amount from a drop to a stream.

While we have illustrated and described what we now regard as thepreferred embodiment of our invention, the construction is, of course,subject to modifications without departing from the spirit of ourinvention. We, therefore, do not wish to restrict ourselves to theparticular form of construction illustrated and described, but desire toavail ourselves of all modifications which 1. A dispensing devicecomprising a container having an opening, an elastic top member closingsaid opening, a nozzle and an elastic protuberance on the top member,and a relatively rigid washer disposed between the top member and thecontainer, the washer having two openings, respectively alined with thenozzle and with the protuberance, the protuberance being collapsible toforce air through the opening in the washer alined with theprotuberance, displace liquid in the container and efiect discharge ofthe liquid through the opening alined with the nozzle and out at thenozzle.

2. A dispensing device comprising a flexible, apertured body member, anozzle and an elastic protuberance on the body member and disposed atthe apertures thereof, and a support between the nozzle and theprotuberance and beneath the body member, the protuberance beingcollapsible to force air into a container upon which the device ismounted, displacing liquid therein and efl'ectlng discharge of theliquid through the nozzle.

3. A dispensing device comprising an apertured body member, aprotruding, collapsible air pocket on the body member connecting with anaperture thereof, and a nozzle on the body member connecting withanother aperture thereof, the

nozzle tapering to a closed tip, the tip being adapted to be cut oif inthe tapered portion to provide a restricted aperture for the nozzle.

4. A dispensing device comprising a flexible, apertured body member, anozzle and an elastic protuberance on the body member and disposed atthe apertures thereof, and a support for the portion of the body memberbetween the nozzle and the protuberance and disposed beneath the bodymember and substantially preventing flexing of the body member, theprotuberance being collapsible to force air into a container upon whichthe device is mounted, displacing liquid therein and efiecting dischargeof the liquid throughthe nozzle.

FORREST A. WILDER. LAWRENCE E. REAGAN.

